Chapter 16: Missions
Luke leaned against the side of his X-Wing and stared out into the swamp. With Yoda gone, they needed to finally return to the Alliance. It was time for the Jedi Knights to emerge once again as a force for good in the galaxy. Luke could only hope that they would succeed. As the sole Jedi Knights in the galaxy, it was now up to him and Mara to blaze a new path for the Jedi. How would they do this without guidance?
Sensing Luke's turbulent emotions, Mara set down the crate she was preparing to load into their transport and came over to him. Luke started slightly when he felt Mara's hand on his forearm. She looked at him with soft eyes silently asking him to confide in her. After a silent moment, Luke just murmured "I just can't believe he's gone."
"Yoda will always be with you." Somewhat surprised, the pair turned to see the shimmering image of Obi-Wan Kenobi emerge from the trees surrounding the clearing. The spirit of Luke's first Jedi teacher motioned into the swamp behind him. "Come, Luke. We have much to discuss."
Luke turned and shot Mara a glare when she said under her breath "You're damn right you do." She was still unhappy with the way Obi-Wan had deceived Luke about his father, even if Luke had already forgiven the old Jedi on some level. Mara returned the glare, but Luke turned to follow his former master, missing her unhappy look. She just sighed and watched the two walk out of sight before returning to the task at hand: packing.
Luke had walked deep into the swamp following the spectral form of his former teacher when he finally broke the silence between them. "Obi-Wan… why didn't you tell me? You told me Vader betrayed and murdered my father." Luke could only suspect the late Jedi's motives and he had to know the real reason. He resented being turned against his own father in that way even if he could understand on some level. The Dark Side had to be stopped and, according to Yoda, Luke was the one with the power to do it. He only hoped he could live up to the old Jedi Master's faith in his abilities and succeed.
Obi-Wan sat down on a nearby log and gestured for Luke to do the same. When Luke joined him, Obi-Wan began to speak. "Your father was seduced by the dark side of the Force. He ceased to be Anakin Skywalker and became Darth Vader. When that happened, the good man that was your father was destroyed. So what I told you is true…from a certain point of view."
Luke could not believe what he was hearing. "A certain point of view!" His former mentor actually believed on some level that the story he told him was true. Luke knew better. His father still existed in the armor somewhere. That is why he couldn't kill him on Bespin.
"Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our point of view." Obi-Wan paused, letting his statement settle in. After a tense moment of silence, he continued and a sense of longing and regret could be heard in his voice. "Anakin was a good friend. When I first knew him, your father was already a great pilot. But I was amazed how strongly the Force was with him. I took it upon myself to train him as a Jedi. I thought I could instruct him just as well as Yoda. I was wrong."
Luke was spellbound throughout Obi-Wan's story. But he knew there was more. Something traumatic must have happened to his father to push him to the Dark Side. And if he could somehow move past that, he could return to the Light. Hope shone in Luke's blue eyes as he spoke. "There is still good in him."
Bitterness could be seen on Obi-Wan's face as he responded, the pain of his failure gnawing at him. He had once thought that way. But one fateful duel taught him just how wrong he was. All that existed now was Darth Vader: the Emperor's perfect Dark Side killing machine. The boy he had met on Tatooine all those years ago was now gone. "He's more machine now than man. Twisted and evil."
Luke got up from his seat on the log and started to pace in a small clearing in front of him. He clenched his right hand and looked down upon it. Luke finally spoke up in a resolute voice. "I can't do it Ben. I can't kill my own father."
From his seat on the log, Obi-Wan's shimmering form looked up at Luke. He had to make him understand. "You cannot escape your destiny. You must face Darth Vader again. You are our best hope."
Luke knew there was some truth to Obi-Wan's words. He would have to face his father again someday. The question was whether he would be facing him as a son or as an enemy. Knowing that this was something he would have to figure out on his own, Luke changed the subject. "Yoda spoke of others. The lost children?"
Obi-Wan rose from his seat. Of course Yoda would have told him of them. The lost children were the best chance to rebuild the Jedi and face the dark forces of the Emperor. "Yes. The children." Obi-Wan turned to walk in the direction of the ships. "Come. The others should hear this too."
---
Obi-Wan surveyed the three adult Jedi in front of him. This was the first time he had actually seen Leia up close since the day the twins were separated. He couldn't help but notice just how much like her mother she was. However, Obi-Wan did not have time to dwell on this and began to speak in a grave tone. "When the Emperor declared his New Order and outlawed the Jedi, most of us were quickly destroyed. But some were able to escape. Thankfully, they were able to flee with some of the children who were to be trained. The future of the Jedi. Many were caught and killed, but some were able to be hidden," Obi-Wan looked directly at Luke and then Leia "much as you two were."
Obi-Wan's gaze fixed upon Mara before he began again. "Sadly, the Emperor decided to seek out these children and other Force sensitives, set on using them to his own gain." Mara clenched her fist at the reminder of what the Emperor had done to her life. "A few of these children remain, entering their adult lives hidden from the Emperor, not knowing the potential they possess inside. The Force will guide you to them…and others. I wish you luck in your quest. May the Force be with you." As he spoke his farewell to the Jedi before him, Obi-Wan's form faded from sight.
Alone, the gathered Jedi remained silent. Today, they had been charged with the last two Jedi with the task of building the Jedi anew. The first of these new Jedi could only hope they could succeed where the old order failed. The trio was finally drawn out of their silent reverie by the sound of beeping from the long range communicator in Luke's X-Wing. Luke slowly moved toward his ship and spoke quietly "I'll go see who that is."
The two women stood in silence for a moment before Mara clenched her fist and turned to Leia. "We have to find them. The Emperor will not do what he did to me to anyone else." She took a step toward their transport and Luke's X-Wing and waved her hand, beckoning Leia to follow. Just as they reached the ships, Luke leaped from the cockpit of his fighter. Mara turned to the twins in front of her. "Let's finish load up. We have work to do."
Luke was quick to agree with Mara's statement, even if he had something else in mind. "We do. Starting with rescuing Han." Leia's eye lit up at the mention of Han's name. She had been preparing for this opportunity ever since they had left Bespin. Feeling his sister's excitement and seeing a curious look from Mara, Luke elaborated on his statement. "That was Chewie. They've found him. Lando's already in Jabba's palace undercover. We're heading for Tatooine."